Veteran Flyers Kimmo Timonen is in the hospital in his native Finland after being diagnosed with a blood clot in his leg and two of them in his lungs, the club announced Tuesday. Timonen, 39, had an issue with clots back in 2008 following an ankle injury, and this latest setback may leave the Flyers looking for reinforcements on defense. (AP Photo)

Kimmo Timonen has had issues with his blood clots before. It was an unfortunate time, coming during the 2008 playoffs and forcing the Flyers’ top defenseman out of action then.

But that problem came as a result of an ankle injury. Now, Timonen is facing a more serious situation, as he’s been in a hospital in Finland, diagnosed with a clot in his left leg and two of them in his lungs.

Flyers general manager Ron Hextall, in announcing Timonen’s situation Tuesday, didn’t obscure the depth of concern the club has for him.

“I hate to even speculate, but I do know this could be a long-term thing and we have to prepare as an organization like it is a long-term thing,” Hextall said. “Could he play next season? I don’t have an answer to that.”

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Timonen, 39, signed a one-year contract extension in June worth a base salary of $2 million but with bonus clauses that could almost double the value of the pact. Now, however, he realistically has to wonder if he’ll play another game in a Flyers uniform.

His most pressing concern, of course, is his overall health. The suggestion might be made that if he’s become prone to blood clot issues Timonen might be advised to not play hockey again.

“I don’t know,” Hextall said. “I guess it’s easy to speculate that ... given the fact that it’s happened again. But I don’t really have the answer to that. I don’t want to speculate.

“I do know he’s in stable condition, he’s doing well and word is that he’s supposed to be discharged (Wednesday),” Hextall added. “So I think first and foremost we’re worried about Kimmo Timonen the person, not the hockey player. Obviously we have to look at both parts of it, but everything we’ve heard about Kimmo is he’s resting and doing well.”

Hextall said Timonen had been dealing for three days with left calf pain and assumed he’d pulled a muscle there during a workout. When the pain persisted, he consulted a physician friend who advised him to have the problem checked out in a hospital, where it was diagnosed.

While he hadn’t talked to Timonen as of late Tuesday, Hextall said they’d traded texts. Club medical personnel have already been consulting with Timonen’s doctors in Finland, and Hextall said Timonen will be re-evaluated as soon as he’s allowed to fly to Philadelphia, which is expected to be in another two or three weeks.

“He was working out hard and he was getting ready for the season,” Hextall said. “Then this happened. I think he was as shocked as anybody.”

From the texts, Hextall said, “He seemed very frustrated, but I think we’re all happy for Kimmo, and (his wife) Johanna and his three children, that he’s doing fine.”

Timonen was similarly frustrated the last time he dealt with blood clot issues, which came after he took a shot off his foot during a playoff game against Montreal in ‘08. More than six years later, he’s still a defensive key to the Flyers’ immediate fortunes.

“There’s no question it’s a setback,” Hextall said. “There’s no other way to explain it. But we’ll adjust. We will do what we can to make the team better. We’ve been looking at a few things for the last few weeks, so this will probably expedite something.”

Exactly what that would be is a bit hard to predict, but despite both Shayne Gostisbehere and Robert Hagg seemingly being only one growing year in the AHL away from solid candidacy for the Flyers’ defensive corps, Hextall said he’s prefer to bring in a veteran defender.

“I would feel more comfortable that way,” Hextall said. “I don’t want to throw a kid into a situation who’s not ready for it, so the way to protect yourself is to add a veteran if possible.”

One obvious candidate still on the free agent market is former Ranger Michael Del Zotto. He has shown in the past to be a quality defender and able puck mover. Other qualities Timonen has would be harder to replace.

“You can’t take ... not only the player, but the calm, the experience and the respect that Kimmo has in the locker room, and not say you didn’t take a step back,” Hextall said.